tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post3322172765088425133..comments2024-03-28T21:32:26.550+00:00Comments on Bruce Charlton's Notions: A pause for thought - Rhetoric or Deep Honesty? Bruce Charltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-59510395893209259892021-07-04T10:17:12.200+01:002021-07-04T10:17:12.200+01:00@EP - Yes, in these End Times there really is no e...@EP - Yes, in these End Times there really is no easy answer, that will achieve what we want. My practice in such situations at work was to give a short answer, to curtail what was usually a counter-productive discussion. <br /><br />If pressed, I said I was happy to give a more argued answer, but it would take about ten/ fifteen minutes (because I would need to back-up to expose and refute assumptions). <br /><br />Nobody ever pursued things further. <br /><br />Such is modern life! Salvation may be just ten minutes of concentrated, connected thinking away from anybody - but it might as well be hidden in another galaxy!Bruce Charltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-32509758879919745262021-07-04T10:09:31.884+01:002021-07-04T10:09:31.884+01:00@BG - "Perhaps the best and most deeply-hones...@BG - "Perhaps the best and most deeply-honest response is simply: "Because I am a Christian." While that statement has the disadvantage of (likely) confirming most people's suspicions that Christians are irrational and "anti-science"..."<br /><br />Also, if one were to say this to a materialistic system Christian you would be inviting an argument about what Christianity is.<br /><br />Arguing with someone like that might be even more frustrating and futile than trying to talk to a standard atheist.Evan Pangburnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-44935203403764101482021-07-04T06:42:28.377+01:002021-07-04T06:42:28.377+01:00Edited comments:
James Higham ... I’ve taken to s...Edited comments:<br /><br />James Higham ... I’ve taken to saying, “The new Thalidomide? No thanks.”<br /><br />Hari Seldon ...It is a difficult because this is a complex issue that involves both material and spiritual realities and I always have a sense of futility when trying to convey my thoughts to someone who has swallowed the official narrative...<br /><br />Perhaps the best and most deeply-honest response is simply: "Because I am a Christian." While that statement has the disadvantage of (likely) confirming most people's suspicions that Christians are irrational and "anti-science," I think it does a good job of cutting to the core of the issue, and probably would give some questioners pause for thought.<br />Bruce Charltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-88328796683691939862021-07-03T14:48:17.737+01:002021-07-03T14:48:17.737+01:00When you refuse to take something as widely accept...When you refuse to take something as widely accepted and controversal as the peck and show no interest in needing to elaborate further, it really packs a punch, and might encourage *genuine* intrigue about your reasoning rather than a ready-to-pounce reaction.David Earlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06090067437261800696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-32280759370703769712021-07-03T14:00:11.387+01:002021-07-03T14:00:11.387+01:00JohnB comment (edited)
"I tend toward the sa...JohnB comment (edited)<br /><br />"I tend toward the same approach - as much honesty as I can succinctly deliver and that won't cause too much of a scene, yet even in this day and age certain things trigger certain individuals. Thus, in many cases, when nobody is directly questioning you, I find it best to keep silent. It's worth noting that silence itself can have an impact and often makes the practitioner seem level-headed; which is perhaps good...<br /><br />That said, I find that as soon as I open my mouth about God - and it doesn't matter how subtle I may be - I am already 'a dogmatic', 'an extremist', so it's rhetoric to them anyhow. Thus, if I feel somebody is prepared for it, and one can usually tell after some probing for a couple of overs maybe over some months, I'll let them have some Good, Honest Rhetoric.<br /><br />But yes, around those that your are unsure of, silence or simple honesty are probably the best. But all of us here know that once you've picked a side, and we have (and they have, perhaps unwittingly) that we'll have to proceed with the rhetoric at some point. It seems to be a suitable counter to Wokeism, as we know that reason does not work.Bruce Charltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-45154293620655105232021-07-03T13:43:33.100+01:002021-07-03T13:43:33.100+01:00Very important point. It’s too easy to give a fake...Very important point. It’s too easy to give a fake but understandable reason — I didn’t vote because I don’t like any of the candidates, I’m not getting the peck because of the side effects, etc. — instead of taking the trouble to be fully honest and (just maybe) jolt the listener out of his dogmatic slumber.Wm Jas Tychonievichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07446790072877463982noreply@blogger.com